Croton-on-Hudson, NY

Green hills, cliffs overlooking the Hudson River, an elegant mix of historic and modern architecture, amazing parks and beaches, golf courses, and one of the most picture-perfect downtowns you'll ever discover. There's no other place quite like Croton-On-Hudson, which feels more like a resort town than a northern suburb of New York City, roughly 35 miles south.

The parks alone will make you glad you chose this charming village: Croton Landing Park, overlooking the bay and having spectacular mountain views; Senasqua Park, with its picnic areas, boat docs, walking path, and spectacular sunsets; and the crown jewel Croton Point Park, a 508-acre park on a peninsula featuring a campground, a playground, picnic areas, fishing areas, a boat launch, and the Croton Point Nature Center. It is also the location of one of the nation's best music festivals, the Clearwater Festival.

From swimming beaches to sailing, Croton-On-Hudson is a warm-weather paradise. But it's also terrific in the winter, where the parks provide opportunities for sledding, snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing. When you aren't enjoying the outdoors, Croton-On-Hudson is home to the Van Cortlandt Manor, a National Historic Landmark built before 1732, which is now a house museum. In June, residents enjoy the annual Summerfest Street Fair. The train station hosts a seasonal farmers' market, and the Upper Village is the ideal place to go shopping, enjoy a cup of coffee at the Black Cow, or spend the evening at the Ocean House Oyster Bar and Grill.